Colonial Re-creation project
We are going to be reading a lot about colonial America over the next few weeks. As we discussed in class, we will be reenacting a colonial village. You have many choices for your project to participate in this. You need to choose at least 1 project, but I hope everyone will participate at some level in the colonial village acting.
1. First person presentation- This project includes the presentation of a character from the American Colonies. You will research the sort of person they are. What do they do for a trade or living? How did they train for that? Are they wealthy? What is their daily life like? How did they come to the Colonies? Where are their people from? Why did they come? What were the important events in history that affected them? These are some of the questions your presentation should address. 2. The artifact- This needs to be a well made artifact that is possible to make without causing you or me or your family to search for expensive or hard to use materials. Check in with me regularly for details. 3. The diorama- This is a model depiction of a time and event in Colonial history. ( See the above instructions 4. Food- If you want to try to make a colonial dish or two, this is for you. The dish should be made in the most authentic colonial way possible. Did the colonists have all the ingredients that we would use today? Why not? What did they use instead? 5. How to- This should be a lesson about how to do a colonial craft. It should be presented as it would have been done during the colonial period and should include some background information about the context. 6. Historical fiction- If writing is what you love, write a short historical fiction story that reflects the history that you have studied. Yes, you still have to write the non-fiction essay if you choose this project. That is your background research. 7. Speech- You can give a political or ideological speech in the manner of someone from the time period. This should be a persuasive speech with the aim of convincing your audience to do or believe something.
I will meet with project groups to answer questions and get our understanding in order. The Writing
Part of ALL of the projects above, is an expository essay that is a least Five paragraphs in length. This essay will be written based on the research you will do to prepare for your project. The essay should include information on your topic, the historical events surrounding your topic and what made your topic important to the time. We will discuss these essays more in class.
You will have research and writing time in class and we will keep a running record of the time and tasks remaining to complete this.
If I am a __, do I write a story about that person?
No. For instance, if you are portraying a slave, you don't write a story of your life. Instead you write a research paper about what slavery was like in the colonies in general. It might describe how the slave trade worked, what the lives of house or field slaves were different, what slave clothes and food were like, what traditions survived from Africa, were slaves ever freed, what did free Africans do?
If I make a diorama, do I have to be part of the colonial village?
Instructions for the project.
Colonial Re-creation projectWe are going to be reading a lot about colonial America over the next few weeks. As we discussed in class, we will be reenacting a colonial village. You have many choices for your project to participate in this. You need to choose at least 1 project, but I hope everyone will participate at some level in the colonial village acting.
1. First person presentation- This project includes the presentation of a character from the American Colonies. You will research the sort of person they are. What do they do for a trade or living? How did they train for that? Are they wealthy? What is their daily life like? How did they come to the Colonies? Where are their people from? Why did they come? What were the important events in history that affected them? These are some of the questions your presentation should address.
2. The artifact- This needs to be a well made artifact that is possible to make without causing you or me or your family to search for expensive or hard to use materials. Check in with me regularly for details.
3. The diorama- This is a model depiction of a time and event in Colonial history. ( See the above instructions
4. Food- If you want to try to make a colonial dish or two, this is for you. The dish should be made in the most authentic colonial way possible. Did the colonists have all the ingredients that we would use today? Why not? What did they use instead?
5. How to- This should be a lesson about how to do a colonial craft. It should be presented as it would have been done during the colonial period and should include some background information about the context.
6. Historical fiction- If writing is what you love, write a short historical fiction story that reflects the history that you have studied. Yes, you still have to write the non-fiction essay if you choose this project. That is your background research.
7. Speech- You can give a political or ideological speech in the manner of someone from the time period. This should be a persuasive speech with the aim of convincing your audience to do or believe something.
I will meet with project groups to answer questions and get our understanding in order.
The Writing
Part of ALL of the projects above, is an expository essay that is a least Five paragraphs in length. This essay will be written based on the research you will do to prepare for your project. The essay should include information on your topic, the historical events surrounding your topic and what made your topic important to the time. We will discuss these essays more in class.
You will have research and writing time in class and we will keep a running record of the time and tasks remaining to complete this.
Example research paper Indentured servants
Frequently asked questions
If I am a __, do I write a story about that person?
No. For instance, if you are portraying a slave, you don't write a story of your life. Instead you write a research paper about what slavery was like in the colonies in general. It might describe how the slave trade worked, what the lives of house or field slaves were different, what slave clothes and food were like, what traditions survived from Africa, were slaves ever freed, what did free Africans do?
If I make a diorama, do I have to be part of the colonial village?
Yes.